Mary Abbott, who passed away in 2019, was one of the last living artists present for the birth of — and who participated in — the Abstract Expressionist movement in New York City in the late 1940s.
A descendant of John and John Quincy Adams, Abbott's father, Naval Commander Henry Abbott, served in Roosevelt’s war cabinet. Her mother, Elizabeth Grinnell, was a poet and syndicated columnist and her aunt, Mary Ogden Abbott, was a well-known sculptor and big game hunter. Abbot’s childhood was spent between New York; Boston; Washington, D.C.; Concord, MA; and Southampton, NY.
As a child Abbott aspired to be a herpetologist and an artist. She took classes in D.C. with Eugene Weiss at the Corcoran School and later in New York at the Art Students League, studying with George Gross and Morris Kantor. Introduced to André Breton and the expat Surrealist group in New York by David Hare, Abbot joined the Subjects of the Artist, an unorthodox school run by Hare, William Baziotes, Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman. In the late 1940s Abbott worked with Rothko and Newman and fostered a lifelong close relationship with Willem de Kooning.
Find a collection of original Mary Abbott paintings on 1stDibs.
“Untitled”
By Mary Abbott
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil pastel on archival paper by the renowned New York artist, Mary Abbott. Signed lower right. Untitled. Circa 1970. Condition is very good. Presently unframed. Sheet size ...
Oil Pastel, Archival Paper
$490
H 11.7 in W 16.54 in D 0.79 in
May Green, Contemporary Impressionist-inspired Oil Pastel, 30x42cm, 2026
Located in AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FR
Work : Original artwork inspired by the Impressionist style, Unique Work executed entirely by hand by the artist. Subject : May Green (Title) The piece celebrates springtime renew...
Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel, Archival Paper
Tulips Red 3
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Tulips Red 3" bursts with life, a vivid floral painting where passion blooms in every detail. Red tulips take center stage, their vibrant hues energized by touches of blue, yellow, ...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$2,850
H 25.2 in W 18.12 in D 1.58 in
Foundational Series No 23C: Minimalist Textural Earth Tone Study
By Rebecca Wing Sze Lam
Located in STRETTON, AU
Collectors’ Note: FS No. 23(C) FS No. 23(C) is the emotional and figurative resolution of Studio Archive No. 86. Where the previous studies established the linguistic soul and the ...
Paper, Glaze, Crayon, Oil Pastel, Ink, Archival Ink, Mixed Media, Acryli...
$508
H 15.75 in W 11.82 in D 0.4 in
Blooming Wisteria Study, Original Mixed-Media Floral Drawing in Soft Violet Tone
Located in AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FR
Title (FR) : Glycine A delicate drawing depicting a cascading wisteria cluster, created with colored pencils and oil pastels. Soft layers of violet and pink tones bring depth and lum...
Oil Crayon, Archival Paper, Oil Pastel
Cross Up
By Catherine Koenig
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original realist pastel drawing by American female artist Catherine Koenig.
Archival Paper, Oil Pastel
$475
H 12 in W 8 in
"Nude Wearing a Hat" Gestural Figure Portrait Study Orange Red and Purple Washes
Located in Austin, TX
Page size: 8 x 12 in. Frame Size: 15.5 x 11.5 in. Signed, bottom left. This spirited mixed media drawing features a standing female figure rendered in a loose, expressive style. The...
Oil Pastel, Watercolor, Archival Paper
Ella's Quilt 42x50" framed oil pastel
By Roy Wilce
Located in Loveland, CO
Ella's Quilt by Roy Wilce Oil Pastel on Paper, still life in vibrant warm colors image 28x36", framed 42x50" *Shipping cost includes the custom packing required to transport fine ar...
Oil Pastel, Archival Paper
$490
H 11.7 in W 16.54 in D 0.79 in
Lac Dans Un Paysage, Original Pastel Drawing on Paper, Signed, 30x42cm
Located in AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FR
Work : Original & Handmade artwork, Unique Work executed entirely by hand by the artist. Subject : Lac dans un paysage (Title - FR) / Lake in a landscape Original contemporary l...
Archival Paper, Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel
Multicolored Tulips 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
Sold and sent unframed -VIRTUAL FRAME. You'll receive it rolled, in a tube. "Multicolored Tulips 1" is a vibrant floral painting rendered in oil stick on paper. The artist's abstrac...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
City Walk
Located in Zofingen, AG
NOT STRETCHED. You'll receive it rolled, in a tube. Ready for stretching. I recommend stretching your painting in a local custom framing shop or gallery. It will be the most affordab...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
Multicolored Tulips 1
Located in Zofingen, AG
Sold and sent unframed -VIRTUAL FRAME. You'll receive it rolled, in a tube. "Multicolored Tulips 1" is a vibrant floral painting rendered in oil stick on paper. The artist's abstrac...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$2,850
H 25.2 in W 18.12 in D 1.58 in
Foundational Series No 22A: Abstract Minimalist Mixed Media Study
By Rebecca Wing Sze Lam
Located in STRETTON, AU
F.S. No. 22-a (The "Monolith" Edition) F.S. No. 22-a is an intimate, primary foundational study from the Rebecca Wing Sze Lam Atelier. Executed on heavy-weight, acid-neutral indust...
Paper, Glaze, Crayon, Oil Pastel, Ink, Archival Ink, Mixed Media, Acryli...
Sold
H 4 in W 5.5 in
"Postcard Geometry" Mary Abbott, Geometric Abstract Crayon on Paper Composition
By Mary Abbott
Located in New York, NY
Mary Abbott Postcard Geometry Signed lower right Crayon on paper 4 x 5 1/2 inches Among the early exponents of Abstract Expressionism, Mary Abbott created powerful oil paintings in...
Paper, Crayon
Untitled (3)
By Mary Abbott
Located in Columbia, MO
Born in 1921, Mary Abbott was a first-wave Abstract Expressionist, producing some of the best and earliest examples of fully abstract work with a dramatic sense of movement and infus...
Gouache, Linen, Paper, Oil Crayon, Watercolor
Untitled (4)
By Mary Abbott
Located in Columbia, MO
Born in 1921, Mary Abbott was a first-wave Abstract Expressionist, producing some of the best and earliest examples of fully abstract work with a dramatic sense of movement and infus...
Paper, Watercolor
Untitled (5)
By Mary Abbott
Located in Columbia, MO
Born in 1921, Mary Abbott was a first-wave Abstract Expressionist, producing some of the best and earliest examples of fully abstract work with a dramatic sense of movement and infus...
Paper, Watercolor
Untitled (6)
By Mary Abbott
Located in Columbia, MO
Born in 1921, Mary Abbott was a first-wave Abstract Expressionist, producing some of the best and earliest examples of fully abstract work with a dramatic sense of movement and infus...
Paper, Watercolor
Sold
H 19.5 in W 16.75 in
"Untitled" Mary Abbott, Abstract Expressionist Collage, Ninth Street Women
By Mary Abbott
Located in New York, NY
Mary Abbott Untitled, circa 1953 Signed with initials lower right Oil and torn paper collage 17 x 14 1/2 inches Provenance: Thomas McCormick Gallery, Chicago Private Collection, New York (acquired directly from the above) Exhibited: Athens, Georgia, Georgia Museum of Art, Suitcase Paintings...
Paper
Abstract Expressionist Summer Flowers
By Mary Abbott
Located in New York, NY
Among the early exponents of Abstract Expressionism, Abbott creates powerful oil paintings of spontaneous, gestural brushwork with highly creative color use. Lauded for her energy an...
Canvas, Oil
“Red Poppies”
By Mary Abbott
Located in Southampton, NY
Pastel and watercolor on arches paper mixed media work of art by the American artist, Mary Abbott. Signed in pencil lower right. Tack holes in all four corners. Condition: Good. ...
Oil Pastel, Watercolor
Prescence
By Mary Abbott
Located in Palm Desert, CA
An abstract oil on canvas by Post War, Abstract Expressionist artist Mary Abbott. Prescence is executed in deep, saturated blues, with lines of yellow and red...
Canvas, Oil